Cover for automobile-tops.



J. A. JONES.

COVER FOR AUTOMOBILE TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5. 1913.

Patented June 8, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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THE NORRIS PETERS l. A. JONES.

COVER FOR AUTOMOBILE TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.,s. 191a.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented June 8,

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IHE NORRIS ('0. -"HOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON. D. c.

JAMES A. JONES, OF JACKSON, TENNESSEE.

COVER FOR AUTOMOBILE-TOPS.

Application filed August 5, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs A. J ONES, cit1- zen of the United States,residing at J ackson, in the county of Madison and State of Tennessee,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Covers forAutomobile-Tops, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to covers for automobile tops, and has as itsobject to provide a cover which may be drawn to completely inclose andto protect the top when folded, and, thereby prevent the same becomingcovered with dust and dirt.

It is another aim of the invention to so construct the cover that it maybe conveniently stored when the top is raised and the cover is not inuse, the cover being so arranged that it may be readily unfolded anddrawn over the top, when the top is folded and it is desired to protectthe same.

The invention aims further to so con struct the cover that it may becompletely closed at its corners which inclose the inner corners of thefolded top so that dust will be excluded.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of anautomobile top provided with the cover embodying the present invention,the top being shown raised and the cover being shown folded or stored.Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rear side of the top illustratingthe cover for the top spread out and in condition prior to folding ofthe top. Fig. 3 is a vertical front to rear sectional view through thetop in folding position and illustrating the manner in which the top isinclosed within the cover. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one forwardcorner of the cover in closed condition. Fig. 5 is a sectional view onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all views of the accompanying drawings bythe same reference characters.

In the. drawings the numeral 1 indicates the 15% in general and 2 thebows, the back stays and the rear curtain being indicated 'iespectivelyby the numerals 8 and 4. The

body of the automobile upon which the top is mounted is indicated ingeneral at 5.

The cover embodying the present invention includes a back section 6 anda front section 7. The back section 6 is secured Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1915.

Serial No. 783,170.

along its lower or forward edge as at 8, at the upper side of the backof the body 5 and the said section is provided with end portions 9 andan upper or back portion 10, which extends between the said end portionsat the rear edge of the said section. In a like manner the front section7 is secured at its rear edge at the line of attachment of the edge 8 ofthe back section and is provided with endportions 11 and a connectingforward portion 12, which extends at the forward edge of the saidsection 7. For a purpose to be presently explained, the end portions 9and back portion 10 of the section 6 are provided adjacent their freeedges with a number of stud members 13 constituting elements of snapfastening devices of which the socket members, indicated at 14, aresecured at corresponding points along the end portions 11 and forwardportion 12 of the section 7.

By reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be observed that whenthe cover is drawn over the folded top, the portions 11 and 12 of theforward section 7 will overlap the portions 9 and 10 respectively of therear section 6, the socket members 1 1 being engaged with the studs 13,whereby to hold the portions in connected relation. By reference to thesaid figure and Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be understood that thespace between the bows at the front of the folded top is closed by theattached forward and rear edges respectively of the sections 6 and 7 andthat the side and end portions of these sections being connected orunited by snap fastening devices, serve to completely close the coverabout the folded top. At this point it will be apparent that anysuitable fastening means may be employed other than snap fasteningdevices, such as, 1frir example, straps and buttons, and the In orderthat the forward corners of the cover for the top may be completelyclosed about the bows so as to exclude dust, each side portion 9 isprovided with a number of strips 15 located at its forward end, and theforward edge of the section 6 is provided at each end with a closureflap 16 provided with one member 17 of a fastening device. In closingthe cover about the top, the strips 15 are positioned so as to liewithin the cover in the manner shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and theclosure flaps 16 are then 18 and 19 are secured at the line of'attachment, of the body sheets of the sections 6 and 7 and when it isdesired to store the said sections of the cover, their end and rear andfront portions respectively are folded down upon the inner sides oftheir body sheets and the sections are then rolled in the manner shownin Fig. 1 of the drawings. After being compactly rolled, the straps 18and 19 are drawn over them and buttoned at their ends over buttons 20and 21 respectively, these buttons being secured to the body sheets ofthe sections. When so stored, the section 6 will be in a compact rollextending behind the back curtain and back stays of the top 1, and thesection 7 will occupy a like position in front of the said curtain andstays.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will be seen thatthe cover may be conveniently stored when not in use and that when'thetop has been folded down and it is desired to employ the cover toprotect the top, the .cover may be quickly and readily unrolled anddrawn about the top and secured in place.

In order that the cover when not in use and when in rolled up conditionas shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, may be protected fromtherain,a'cover flap 19' is secured at its upper edge to the back curtain Jr-andother flaps 21 are secured at their upper edges to the back stays 3 andthese flaps are to be stretched over the rolled up back of the cover inthe manner shown in Fig. 1

of the drawings and secured by any suitable I fastening means.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is: I v

1. In a cover for vehicle tops, flexible foldable cover sectionsattached at'their adjacent edges and arranged to receive between them'infolded condition the top to be protected, and means separably connectingthe sections at their marginal portions, and

Copies of this patent may be obtained for'five cents each, by addressingthe (J'ommissionerm Washington, D. C.

means for holding thesections in folded condition.

2. The combination with a vehicle top, of

a cover therefor including flexible foldable a cover therefor includingflexible foldable sections connected at the lower portion of the back'of the top and lying one in front and the other in rear of the saidback of the top, the said sections being provided with.

overlapping side portions separably "connected, and the side portions ofone of the sections at their inner ends being provided with closureflaps adapted to lie within the cover when the cover is closed, andmeans for holding the'sections in folded condition.

1. The combination with a vehicle top, of a cover thereforincludingsections connected at the lower portion of the back of the topand lying one in front and the other in rear .of the said back of'thetop, the said sections connected marginal portion being provided withotherolosure flaps adapted'to be separably connected to the body portionof the other section.

5; The'combination with a vehicle. top, of a cover for'the topcomprising'sections connected at the lower side of the back of the topand having side portions to inclose the sides ofthe top when folded, thesections being adapted to be rolled and stored one at the front and theother at the rear of the said back of the top, and straps connected attheir AM-BSA. JONES. as lVitn'esses: I

jPRnN'rIoE W. Conn,

C. B. GAINS.

